Buckle



June 2, 1953 J, DRONQFF 2,640,241

` BUCKLE JEAN DRONOFF Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE Jean Dronoff, Rye, N. Y.

Application May 31, 1950, Serial No. 165,157

1 Claim. 1

rIhis invention relates to fastenings of the buckle or clasp type for releasably connecting a pair of strap ends and while adaptable generally for the purpose, it is specially designed for use on the angle straps of womens shoes, wrist watch straps andthe like.

The object of the invention is to produce a single member one-piece buckle, rigid throughout, with no moving parts, that is permanently attachable to one of a pair of strap ends and to which the other or free strap end may be buckled and unbuckled readily and conveniently and securely held against accidental disengagement.

Other features and advantages of the invention not specially mentioned above, will be brought to attention in the detail description that follows.

The accompanying drawing will serve to illustrate several embodiments suitable for carrying the invention into eiect, but it will be understood that no limitations are intended by this showing other than -are imposed by the appended claim,

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing the buckle applied to the ankle strap of a womans shoe.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the buckle applied as a fastener for a pair of strap ends generally.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively end and side views of the buckle detached.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line .S5-S5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing a modified form of attaching the buckle.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively an end View and longitudinal sectional view of a modication in the relative positioning of the strap-engaging projections of the buckle, and

Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively end and top plan views showing a modified form of buckle orna mentation.

Referring now to the drawing, I indicates one of a pair of strap ends to which the buckle 2 is attached, preferably by spurs 3, integral with the body of the buckle, which are driven through the strap and bent up or clinched on the under side thereof, to make the attachment permanent and secure. The use of integral spurs is advantageous for obvious reasons, but other means of attaching the buckle may be employed if desired, such, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, in which thread openings 4 are provided for sewing the buckle to the strap,

The other or free strap end that engages the buckle, is indicated at 5 and the only formation required for the purpose, is to provide it with a series of punched-out openings 6, suitably spaced apart in the usual manner to permit adjustment to the size of the ankle or wrist on which the strap is used.

The buckle is preferably in the form of a single one-piece member, rigid throughout, with no moving parts and consists of a plate-like body 1, provided with two projections 8 and 9, spaced apart to make contacting engagement withthe free strap end at two separated points.

It will be evident from the description of the projections that follows, that they must be so relatively positioned with reference to the space separating them, as to insure requisite cooperation with each other in preventing any tendency of the free end of the strap to rise between them and elfect accidental disengagement.

The projection 8 serves as the xed tongue of the buckle and is designed to engage any selected opening in the free strap end to secure the ends in connected overlapping relation. It is shown in the form of a prong that rises from the center of the plate-like body, at or near one end thereof and is curved or bent over at the upper end in a direction opposite the pull of the free strap end, to retain the same against working loose or other accidental disengagement. The prong may be positioned at or near either end of the plate-like body, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, its location depending upon the form of the second projection 9.

Preferably, the second projection is in the form of a strap-retaining loop of inverted U-shape. The legs of the loop extend upward from the plate-like body, about centrally of its length and on opposite sides of the overlapped strap ends. They are iirst bent inwardly into approximate meeting relation, to complete the loop and then upwardly, as best shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 9, to provide fastening means for an ornament, hereinafter described, that conceals the loop and the greater portion of the base plate. To buckle the straps, the free end is passed through the loop and then pressed down on the prong located beyond it, causing the prong to enter a selected opening therein and the pull of the straps in opq posite directions, tightens and secures the connection.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the prong, of the construction above described, is located at the entrance end of the buckle and the loops is reduced to an L-shaped projection from the body of the buckle that forms, in eiect, an outwardly opening notch, permitting the free end of the strap, after being engaged by the prong, to be entered therein at the open side and securely held against disengagement, under that portion of the projection that extends across the overlapped strap ends.

For ornamental purposes, the cross member of the loop, in either the preferred form shown or as modified, is provided with a semi-precious or other stone setting, as indicated at l0, or it may be plain metal, suitably shaped and polished and the stone setting omitted, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

As thev construction, `mode. of'operationand many important advantages ofthe" invention will be apparent from the foregoing, it is not deemed necessary to describe the same at greater length".

I claim: A buckle rigid throughout and consisting of two parts xedly secured together against independ 'v ent movement, said buckle being :adapted for: i

permanent attachment to one of two flexible strap members to be connected, leaving the o'ther-A of said strap members free for manipulation to eect.l engagement yof 'thefsame vwith thebuckle, one ofifsaid aforementionedxparts `oi ther buckle being a one-piece base member having downwardly bent prongs, at opposite endsithereofiand upwardly projecting lugs at opposite sidesthereof, said-lugs S being .benttinwardlytowards .each otiien-itoz-overliel the `base .and to form therewith a` loop extending transversely ofthe base through which the other of said aforementioned strap members is adapted to be passed, the said base member also having an upwardly extending projection adjacent to one end thereof and in line with the opening through the loop and adapted to be engaged with any one of a series of openings formed in said other strap member when passed through said loop, the free terminal portions of the loop-forming lugs being bent upwardly inV 'substantiallymeetingrelationship to close said loop, the otheff th two aforementioned buckle parts being an enlarged, ornamental head member permanently connected to the bent up terminal portions of the loop-forming lugs, to thereby unite them and to substantially conceal the joint therebetween.

JEAN DRONOFF.

References Cited in .fthe le of this patent UNITED' STATES/PATENTS* Number blamev Date 271,564:` Zelle-'r Jan. 3011883 y '771,585` Stiles-; Oct. M1904 822,206 Fredrickson May291'1`906 972,937 Spangler Oct; 18,".1910 1,057,652: Mead." Apr. 1,1913 

